Safety buckle



May 3, 1932.

A. C. FOULK I SAFETY BUCKLE Filed May 8, 1929 lplatented May 3, 1932 Urrea s'riss TENT osier;

ALBERT C. FOULK, OE DAYTON, OHIO SAFETY BUCKLE Application filed May 8, 1929. Serial No. 361,427.l l

(GRANTED UNDER THE ACT 0F MARGH strong in its general make-up and in its resistance to any opening action produced by the usual pull thereon.

The invention is further characterized by the provision of a buckle which will not readily become disengaged accidentally while in use because of slack in the belt of the user or thru contact of the body with different articles.

A further object 0f the invention is the 3 provision of a buckle which requires no particular skill in handling and'having a positive locking catch incorporated thereon so arranged as to permit of its being quickly released should occasion require it.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a buckle having a double independently operated latching mechanism so arranged as to make it practically impossible for the buckle to be opened by an accidental blow imparted from any direction and yet permit of its being rapidly opened when desired.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts whereby certain important advantages are attained and mainly comprises two separable members together with means for effectively holding the same against separation when in locking relation, all of which is hereinafter more par-V ticularly described and definitely pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawingsFigl is a perspective view of a safety belt secured to a 3, 1883, yAS AMENDED APRIL 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) seat and provided with a buckle embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view buckle shown in locked position.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 s the parts arranged in a full open posi Fig. 4C is a side elevation.

of the bowing tion.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of 60 Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a fractional detail view showing the locked position of the releasing members in full line and the unlocked position thereof in dotted lines. 65

Corresponding parts are designated by corresponding numerals throughout the drawings.

As disclosed in the drawings, the

comprises essentially two separable members P buckle particular instance a safety belt of the type used by aviators being illustrated. In providing a belt for persons of this character, the belt of course must be sufciently strong to stand the weight of a person, and the catch or buckle holding the ends together be strong enough to support at least the should weight of the person using the belt, and also must be capable of quick disengagement in case of an emergency.

To this end the member 11 hereinafter to be referred to as the base member is provided witha connecting piece 13, one end of the said flexible member 12 being adapted to eX- tend around the said connecting piece and sewed or otherwise suitably secured, as shown in Fig. 2.

The member 10 comprising a link fitting is adapted to be engaged by the hook ends 14 and 15 of a clamping member 16 hinged to the base member at points 17 and 18.

folded over into locked position the member When 10 is held in position between socket forming lugs 19 and 2O provided on base member 11 and the lugs 14 and 15 on the clampin ber 16. The hook ends are connected by an operating bar 21 having a fiat portion 22 d g mem- Which provides a hand hold, to permit of the parts being quickly moved from the full closed position shown in Fig. 2 to the full open position shown in Fig. a.

Mounted on the clamping member 16 are latch pieces 23 and 2e of substantially similar design which comprise, essentially, levers 25 and 26 having shafts 2T and 28 adapted to bear in suitable bearing portions; 29vr provided in the clamping member. C'oiled springs 30 are shown mounted on shafts 27 and 28 respectively Which are adapted to rotate the latch piece intol al ii'usli position, as shown in dotted line in Fig. 6,l When the buckle is in a released position. In this Way, the link fitting 10 is free to slide oif the clamping member 16.

The latch pieces 23 and 24 have cam portions 31 formed integrally thereon Which-are engaged by projecting'hooks32 provided on the base member.

W hen it is intended to closethebuckle, the link fitting 10 is iirst placed' in the position shown in Figs. Sand 4l, the hinged member being moved on its pivots to the position shown in Fig. 2. At this time latch pieces are engagedby the projecting hooks 32 and assume the position shown in fiill line in Fig, 7, thus effectively locking'the buckle. When itis 3 intended to open the buckle, the levers 25', and.

26 aregraspedmanually and simultaneously squeezed inwardly, assuming the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7L A* slightup- Ward pull moves the latch pieces 23 and 2a clear of the projecting hooks; the levers 25 and. 26 are released, and immediately assume a flush position relative to theclamping,

member 16. At this time-thebuckle is in a released position. Any additional pull on the belt' ends causes the clamping member to pivot on its-bearing portions 14' and 15 and permits thelink litting to slide o-fll its end.l By1 means of this double independent latch system it is practically impossible for the buckle to be opened, inasmuch as it isnecessary to give a simultaneous and oppositepull to the latches iii/order to. release them.v

From the foregoing description, itl is thought to be obvious that a buckle constructedin accordance with my invention is particularly Well adapted'for use by aviators by reason of the convenience and facility With which it may be assembled and safely operated and it Will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible ofsome change and modilication Without departing fromV the principles and spirit thereof, and for this reason l do not: Wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precisearranngement and formation of the severalv parts ierein shown in carrying,outmyinvention inpractice except ashereinafter claimed.

I. claim:

1.,A.buckle for beltspcomprising a` base membery adapted toaccommodateone endof said belt, a link fitting connected to the other end of said belt, a readily releasable clamping member having means co-operatin@l With means on said base member and With said link fitting for interlocking said Vlink iitting With said base member, said clamping memberbeing provided With a permanently attached latch movable therewith and relative thereto and said base member being provided with cooperating holding means to engage said latch for releasably and positively locking said clamping member to said base member.r l

2. A buckle for belts comprising a base inembenadapted1 to accommodate one end of said belt, a linkflitting connected to the other end offsaid' belt, guiding lugs mounted on said' base member adjacent each side thereof providing link receiving sockets, said lugs being` adapted to receive one end of said link fitting when the buckle is in a closed position, a clamping member pivotally mounted on said base member adjacent to the .free end thereof, said clamping member having a pair of spaced hook shaped ends positionedI adjacent the pivots thereof, and' means on said clamping member and base member positively locking the clampingV member to said base member when in a closed position.

3. A buckle for beltscomprising a base member adapted'to accommodate one end ofv said belt, a link fitting connected to the other endof said belt, co-operating holding means on said base member, a. readily releasable clamping member pivoted to said base member and havingy means cooperating with means on said bases member and' With said link fitting for interlocking said link fitting With said base member, and means permanently attached to said clamping member adjacent to its free endadapted-to interlockingly engage said co-operating holding means on said base member When said clamping member is in a closedposition.

4. A buckle for beltsicomprisinga base member adapted to receive one end of said beltsaid member having spaced end'posts mounted'thereon, a link fitting connected to the other end of said belt, a pair ofspaced projecting' hooks mounted on said base meme ber, a substantiallyl U shaped' clamping member pivotally mount'edon saidfend posts and having means cooperating with on said base member and with said linkfitting for interlocking said' link fitting with said base member, andfmeans adjacent thev closed end` of said U. shaped clamping member adapted toflatchin'gly engage' thesaid projectingiho'oks on saidbase'member when said clampingA member Yis fin ay closed position.

5. A buckle of the class described comprising-a belt holding;base'vmember,.a=link fitting, a clamping member pivotally mounted on said basemember. andhaving mea-nsthereon cooperating With means ,on said. basefmember.r

and with said link fitting for interlocking said link fitting with said base member, co-v operating holding means on said base member, and yielding means mounted on said clamping member for latchingly engaging said co-operating holding means when said clamping member is moved into closed position.

6. A buckle of the class described compris ing a belt holding base member, a belt fastening link fitting, a releasable clamping member pivotally mounted on said base member having means thereon cooperating with means on said base member and with said link fitting for interlocking said link fitting with said base member for detachably securing said link tting to said base member', cooperating holding means on the base member, and aA yieldingly urged latching device mounted on said clamping member adapted to engage said co-operating holding means when said clamping member is moved into closed position to positively lock said clampino' member to said base member.

A buckle of the class described comprising a belt holding base member, a belt fastening link fitting, a clamping member pivotally mounted on said base member having means thereon cooperating with means on said base member and with said link fitting forinterlockingsaidlink fitting with said base member for detachably engaging said link fitting and said base member, co-operating holding means on said base member, and a latching device comprising a pair of spaced levers journaled in said clamping member and having portions thereon adapted to interlockingly engage with said co-operating holding means whereby to lock said clamping member to said base member when the buckle is in a closed position.

8. A buckle of the class described comprising a belt holding base member, a belt fastening link fitting, a clamping member pivotally mounted on said base member having means thereon cooperating with means on said base member and with said link fitting for interlocking said link fitting with said base member for detachably engaging said link fitting and said base member, and a p manually detachable latching device comprising a pair of spaced manually operated levers journaled in said clamping member and having cam faced portions thereon adapted to interlock with co-operating holding means on the base member whereby to lock said clamping member to said base member when in a closed position.

9. The combination with a separable buckle comprising a belt holding base member having a clamping member pivotally mounted thereon and a belt fastening link fitting, said clamping member having means thereon cooperating with means on said base member and with said link fitting for interlocking said link fitting With said base member, of means comprisingV a pivoted latch member mounted on said clamping member adapted to interlockingly engage co-operating holding means on said base member when said clamping member is moved into closed position.

10. The combination with a separable buckle comprising a belt holding base member having a clamping member pivotally mounted thereon and a belt fastening link fitting, said clamping member having means thereon cooperating with means on said base member and with said link fitting for interlocking said link fitting with said base member, of a latching device pivotally and yield` ingly mounted on said clamping member and holding means on said base member adapted to lockingly engage said latching device when said clamping member is moved into closed position.

11. The combination with a separable buckle comprising a belt holding base member having a clamping member pivotally mounted thereon and a belt fastening link fitting, said clamping member having means thereon cooperating with means on said base member and with said link fitting for interlocking said link fitting with said base member, of a latching device therefor comprising a pair of spaced levers journaled in said clamping member, and a pair of similarly spaced projecting hooks provided on said base member whereby to latchingly engage said levers when said clamping member is moved into a closed position relative to said base member.

12. The combination with a separable buckle comprising a belt holding base member having a clamping member pivotally mounted thereon and a belt fastening link fitting, said clamping member having means thereon cooperating with means on said base member and with said link fitting for interlocking said link fitting with said base member, of a. manually releasable latching device therefor comprising a pair of spring actuated latching levers journaled in said clamping member, and a pair of rigid pro-j ectin g hooks rovided on said base member adapted to be detachably engaged by said latching levers when the buckle is in a closed position.

13. The combination with a separable buckle comprising a belt holding base member having a clamping member pivotally mounted thereon and a belt fastening link tting, said clamping member having means thereon cooperating with means on said base member and with said link fitting for interlocking said link fitting with said base member, of a locking device therefor comprising a pair of independently operated members having spaced and parallel aligned shafts journaled in said clamping member, said shafts having cam faced end portions thereon providing latchesadapted to be engaged by projecting hooks mounted on said base member, a hand grip provided on said latches and spring means in operative engagement with said shafts whereby to normally maintain said latches in a lockedv position.

le. The combination With a separable buckle comprisingy a belt holding. base member having a clamping member pivotally mounted thereon and a belt fastening link fitting, said clamping member having means thereonl cooperating vvithy means on said base member and With said link fitting for` interlocking said link fitting with said base member, of a locking device therefor comprisingya pair of independently operated members having spaced shafts in parallel alignment journaled in said clamping member7 said shafts i9' having opposed cam faced end portions thereon providing independently operated latches adapted to simultaneously or independently engage projections on said base member for locking said clamping member to said base member.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

ALBERT C. FOULK. 

